The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-04-18


AS the heir of this brother. George Washington
subsequently, came into possession of Mount
Vernon. According to the biographies. Washing
ton, IN these years of his early manhood, spent
the summers IN active outdoor life, and the win
ters with his books.
few months after the date given for the
birth of Thomas Posey there came break ia the
monotony of life at Mount Vernon Lawrence
Washington suddenly departed for the West
Indies. taking George with him. The usual ex
PLANTATION of this trip given in the biographies Is
that Lawrence went on account or ili-health
Why he took his brother is not made clear In
the Barbados George Washington contracted
small pox, and the pits in his face were discern
IDLE TO the day of his death.
All that has been published OF the antecedents
of Thomas Posey is EN- raced in the single sent
ence quoted above His bographer IS just as
brief in speaking of the distinguished mans
youth. The sketch proceeds:
I'm 1869 he had received tolerable English
education. and as ne was to inherit no fortune,
his enterprisng spirit induced him at that early
age to seek residence in the western part Of
Virginia near the frontiers"
By turning to any history the reader will frd
in the period including l769. Washington was
making frequent visits to the western part of
Virginia. and spending much of his time there
looking after the interests he had acquired. He
had some years previously married the widow
Gusts, and in referring to this event several of
the biographers soeak Of Washington as having
had lone two affairs which had turned out
unfortunately
In IVA trouble with the Indians broke out on
the western Virginia frontier. the savages being
melted to hostilities by British emlssaries.
Washington prominent in the campaign
which was inaugurated. The sketch of Thomas
Posey says that yonng man received an appoint
ment in the quartermasterS department. lit
tie later Washington was at the head OF the con-
tinental forces, and the biography of Posey SAYS
be had joined the army and, young as he was,
had been Immediately appointed a captain.
Right here a brief quotation from the sketch in
the Port Folio belongs:
"Soon afta- Captain Posey joined the main
army, General Washington directed selection
of officers and men to be made from the differ
ent corps to compose rife regiment, to be COM
rnanded by Col; Daniel Morgan. Young Posey
was one OF the captains"
No mention is made of the influence which
gave Posey this commission in the crack COM
maud of the Continental army. But little
later he showed the blood that was IN him. when
Mad Anthony" Wayne led the night assault
upon Stony Point with picked body of officers
and men. That most brilliant and daring feat
of the Revolution called from Congress a vote
OF thank to every man who participated in it,
and gold medal for Mad Anthony"
''Spare US! brave Americans. spare us." the
British troops cried, as the assaulting column
carried everything before it.
Major Posey," says the record, ''was the
second field officer who entered the enemy's bat
terieS this glorious night, and he gave the
word The forts our own"
From major Posey rose to colonel and then to
brigadier- general He distinguished himself by
personal prowess in the Georgia campaign, and
when the war was over he settled again in west
ern Virginia, but did not remain long From
some source he had Inherited restless spirit of
adventure and enterprise. He moved further
westward. and in 1910 he was found presiding
as Lleuuenant-governoro over the Senate Of Ken
lucky When the war of 1872 came on General
Posey was one of the first to present himself,
and was placed at the head of the troops raised
by Kentucky. When hostilities were over a
handsome tribute to General Posey's course was
paid by the authorities of Kentucky Leaving
this record behind him. he moved to Attakapas.
in louisiana, and was sent to the United States
Senate That position he gave up to accept the
more important one of Governor and Commits
sonerin-charge oe Indiana Territory The gov
ernorship he held until the admission OF Indiana
as State
Wherever Posey went he seems to have been
recognized as one whom his fellow-citizens de-
lighted to honor.
Washington and Posey lived to nearly the
same age-slxty-seven years-and the manner OF
death In each case was very similar. Washing
ton caught severe cold from horseback ride
in the rain. Posev contracted his cold on a trip
down the Wabash river in bad weather. both
men took their beds; the usual remedies failed,
and they passed away calmly conscious and Civ
ing instructions to worldly matters just before
the end. Posey, before he died. placed in the
hands of his wife sketch Of his life and sealed
letter The letter has never been made public.
One more extract, and that the most slgnii-
cant OF all, remains to be given from the Port
Folio sketch 1t is this:
In his person General Posey was TALL athletic
and finely formed. His appearance united dig
nifty and gracefulness and in his manners were
blended in a remarkable degree the stately and
gallant bearing of the soldier with the ease AND
suavity of the polished gentleman His face was
remarkably handsome, his features high, flint
| and prominent, and if ut times they assumed
| the sternness of command. there was a softness
in his fine blue eve, spirit and intelligence
| mingled with calm and benevolent expression
| which pervaded the whole countenance, that a
once attracted the admiration and even the affec
| tions of the beholder.'
And there the sketch closes. Between thu
| lines may read that the resem blance O.
| Posey to Washington very striking. but tht
| writer of 1924 makes no mention of it. Indeed
| the name of Washington appears but cnce o.
| twice. only in a casual way, and there is no ref
| erence to any acquaintance, much less friend
| ship, between the two men,
Years afterward there appeared in encyclo
| pedia brief sketch of Gen. Thomas Posey il
| which were used these words: He was the in
| innate friend of Washington"
| In Sparks's American Biographies" pub
| lished in the forties, there is short sketch o
| Gen. Thomas Posey, which the author says wa
| compiled from memoranda IN the hands of hi
| family. This too, ignores the story Of the rela
tionship with Washington. 1t contains nothin,
more in the way of information than appears il
| the Port Folio sketch, but there is the folowin,
rather curious reason given for the elaborar
| personal description:
'We should not alude to a subject so ap
! parently unmportant" says the biographer ii
| it were not that the personal appearance of thi
! distinguished gentleman. both as to form ant
feature, was attractive to be subject o
1 general remark wherever he was known"
The Shawnetown tradition must stand a
such. 1t has no record of birth published
history to rest upon. but 1t is the less inter
esting.